Lavandula plant named ‘KERLAVANGEM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula angustifolia  cultivar named ‘KERLAVANGEM’ is disclosed, characterized by little or no need to vernalize plants to induce flowering, with flowering beginning early in the season. Additionally, the new cultivar has broad flower spikes. moderately compact plant growth and broad foliage. The new variety is a  Lavandula angustifolia , suitable for outdoor landscape and container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavandula angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘KERLAVANGEM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under thedirection of the inventors, David Kerley, Priscilla Kerley and TimothyKerley, all citizen of the United Kingdom. The objective of the breedingprogram was to produce new Lavandula angustifolia cultivars forcommercial ornamental purposes. The breeding program consisted oforganizing groups of unnamed, unpatented commercial Lavandulaangustifolia varieties for open pollination. The seeds from theseunnamed parents were collected and planted out, resulting in theselection of the new variety ‘Kerlavagem’ in the Spring of 2001. Thebreeding program and selection all took place at a commercial nursery inCambridge, the United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KERLAVANGEM’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed in Cambridge, UK in the Autumn of 2001 andhas shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KERLAVANGEM’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KERLAVANGEM’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KERLAVANGEM’ as a new and distinct Lavandulacultivar:

-   -   1. Little or no need to vernalize plants to induce flowering.    -   2. Broad flower spikes.    -   3. Flowering beginning early in the season.    -   4. Moderately compact plant growth.    -   5. Broad Foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERLAVANGEM’ are similar to plants of theunpatented variety Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘KERLAVANGEM’ produce consistently broader flower spikes on a thickerpeduncle. Additionally, plants of ‘KERLAVANGEM’ do not requirevernalization to induce flowering as required by ‘Hidcote’ and the newcultivar flowers earlier than ‘Hidcote.’ Plants of ‘KERLAVANGEM’ aremore compact than ‘Hidcote’ and produce flowers with different coloredpollen.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERLAVANGEM’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Lavandula angustifolia ‘Blue Cushion’ U.S. Plant Pat.No. 9,119. Plants of ‘KERLAVANGEM’ are similar to plants of ‘BlueCushion’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar have a darker flower color and flower spikes that arebroader and occur on shorter, thicker peduncles. Additionally the newcultivar has a broader leaf than ‘Blue Cushion’ and does not requirevernalization to induce flowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalplants of ‘KERLAVANGEM’ grown outdoors in Cambridge, UK. Plants areapproximately 8 months old, shown in an approximately 4 inch container.The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KERLAVANGEM’ plants grown outdoors inCambridge, UK. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 0 to10° C. at night to 5 to 20° C. during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types. Nochemical or photoperiodic treatments were given.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia cultivar    ‘KERLAVANGEM.’-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 months in an 11 cm pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: About 20 days at approximately 20° C.-   Root description: Fine, well branched, becoming woody with age.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, slightly spreading, aromatic perennial.-   Height: Approximately 20.5 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 16 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate, approximately 60 cm in width after 3 years.-   Branching characteristics: Moderate branching.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.2 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Moderately pubescent.-   Internode length: Approximately 1 cm, quite variable.-   Strength of stem: Strong.-   Color of lateral branches: A color between RHS Yellow-Green 143A and    Greyed-Green 191A.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 12-16.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 4.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1 cm.-   Color:    -   -   Mature foliage upper side.—A color between R.H.S.            Yellow-Green 147A and 147B.        -   Mature foliage under side.—A color between R.H.S.            Yellow-Green 147A and 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: One very prominent mid-vein, with a fine            network of much smaller veins. Venation color upper side:            Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 147A and 147B. Venation color under            side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144A.-   Petiole: Not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Naturally blooming profusely late May through    mid-Summer.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. Flowers have bracts. Corolla tube has 2 upper-lips            and 3 lower lips.        -   Flower spikes.—Height: Approximately 3 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Height: Approximately 0.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Violet 89A and            Violet-Blue 93A.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Corolla — length of upper lobes (2).—Approximately 5 mm            (hooded).        -   Corolla — length of lower lobes.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Corolla — width of upper lobes.—Approximately 3.5 mm.        -   Corolla — width of lower lobes.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Shape of upper lobes.—2 conjoined lobes.        -   Shape of lower lobes.—3 smaller lobes, fused for about half            their len.        -   Apex of upper lobes.—Blunt, rounded.        -   Apex of lower lobes.—Mucronate.        -   Texture of corolla — upper surface.—Slightly savoyed.        -   Texture of corolla — lower surface.—Slightly savoyed.        -   Color when opening — upper surface.—Near RHS Violet 87B.        -   Color when opening — lower surface.—Near RHS Violet 87B.        -   Color fully open.—Near RHS Violet 87A and Violet-Purple 82A.        -   Inflorescence bracts (3 buds subtend from each            bract).—Approximately 5 mm wide×4 mm high.        -   Bract color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C, veins 165A.        -   Calyx arrangement.—Tube.        -   Calyx width.—Approximately 2-3 mm.        -   Sepal length.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   Sepal texture.—Very hirsute, hairs same colour as sepal.        -   Sepal colour — flower opening.—Near RHS Violet 86A, base            near Yellow-Grey.        -   Sepal colour — fully open.—Near RHS Violet 86A, base near            Yellow-Grey.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 7.5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Filament length: Approximately 1-1.5 mm.-   Anther length: Approximately 0.5 mm.-   Anther color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175C and 1.-   Pollen color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 167A.-   Pollen amount: Sparse.-   Pistil length: Approximately 6 mm.-   Style length: Approximately 4 mm.-   Style color: Near RHS White 155B.-   Stigma color: Near RHS Violet 87D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fragrance: Strong Lavandula scent, both flowers and foliage.-   Low or no vernalization requirement: While most Lavandula    angustifolia varieties known commercially require prolonged hours of    low temperatures to induce flowering, ‘KERLAVANGEM’ flowers easily    under conditions with very little cold treatment required.-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Hardy perennial. Tolerates    high temperature to at least 32° C. Tolerates low temperatures to    −12° C. While specific drought tolerance has not been observed, once    plants are established very little water is necessary to maintain    plants.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘KERLAVANGEM’ as herein illustrated and described. 